Chapter 27 – 027

“From now on, reject any collaborations related to the Jianghe Group.”

Jiang Longxing and Jiang Yongjun’s pleas for mercy were utterly futile as Xie Yunjing walked straight out of the reception room.

After a brief pause, he added, “Feel free to appropriately leak this information to our partners.”

Assistant Yu Mingyue, who had been diligently noting down the instructions, froze momentarily.

Leaking the news that Xie Group would refuse to collaborate with Jianghe Group to their industry peers wouldn’t directly cause Jianghe Group to collapse, but it would undoubtedly deal a significant blow to their vitality. Their current promising development momentum would evaporate like bubbles.

Since becoming Xie Yunjing’s assistant, Yu Mingyue had always seen him act impartially and conduct business strictly from a professional standpoint. She had never witnessed him bring personal emotions into work. Yet today, not only had Xie Yunjing done so, but he had also employed such a ruthless and bloodless tactic.

What on earth had that Jiang Longxing done to provoke their Mr. Xie?

“Sister Yu, I can attend the meeting myself. I need you to help me look into something.”

Yu Mingyue snapped out of her thoughts. “Alright, Mr. Xie. Please go ahead.”

Xie Yunjing took the meeting documents Yu Mingyue handed over and said, “Look into which screenwriters and directors Jiang Longxing and his people have been in contact with recently. Once you’ve figured it out, pass the word along and let those screenwriters and directors know to act wisely.”

Screenwriters? Directors?

Yu Mingyue was momentarily confused.

The Xie Group primarily focused on industrial business, supplemented by IT and real estate, with no plans to venture into the entertainment industry. Why was Xie Yunjing asking her to investigate these people?

However, she quickly realized the connection. While the Xie Group might not be involved in the entertainment industry, their Mr. Xie’s newlywed spouse was currently preparing to shoot a television drama.

So, was their Mr. Xie standing up for his spouse?

Yu Mingyue’s feelings suddenly turned a bit peculiar. While others might not know the details of Xie Yunjing and Gu Xian’s relationship, she was well aware. Before marrying Gu Xian, Xie Yunjing had been so consumed by work that he had never been in a relationship with anyone.

There was, of course, no such thing as a romantic relationship between Xie Yunjing and Gu Xian. In fact, from what she had learned later, their relationship had once been quite hostile. Even after their marriage, their Mr. Xie didn’t even wear a wedding ring. She had assumed their marriage was the result of some melodramatic entanglement between wealthy families and that their Mr. Xie didn’t care about Gu Xian at all.

But now, it was clear that the truth was far from what she had thought.

“I understand, Mr. Xie.”

Watching Xie Yunjing enter the meeting room, Yu Mingyue quickly set off to gather the requested information.

Due to allowing the meeting members to discuss the agenda beforehand, today’s meeting ended faster than usual. When Xie Yunjing returned to his office, ready to proceed with his next task, he heard his assistant, Yu Mingyue, say, “Mr. Xie, the task you assigned me earlier has been completed.”

Xie Yunjing didn’t pause his movements. “No need to report to me. I trust your abilities.”

“It’s not that, Mr. Xie…” As an exceptional assistant, it was her duty to ensure everything was handled perfectly once she understood what truly mattered to her boss.

Yu Mingyue placed her phone in front of Xie Yunjing. “It seems that Mr. Gu has already resolved the issue himself.”

On the phone screen was the latest breaking news, and its headline read:

“Screenwriter Wang Xue! Director Ming Lang! Will 《The Legend of Song Mountain》 be a blockbuster or a flop?”

Yu Mingyue elaborated, “Mr. Wang Xue is known within the entertainment industry as a legendary screenwriter. Every series and film he has worked on has received critical acclaim, many of which remain classics still being rebroadcast on television. He even received a National Special Contribution to Arts Award. Mr. Wang Xue is already over sixty years old and had officially retired long ago.”

“And as for Director Ming Lang, he was the one behind the nationwide sensation 《Bloodstained Jiangnan》. His talent was widely praised by people from all walks of life. However, after the tremendous success and profit of 《Bloodstained Jiangnan》, he stopped working and spent his days drinking and indulging in pleasures. Many now believe that he exhausted his creative genius after 《Bloodstained Jiangnan》, which is why he became so self-destructive.”

“I understand,” Xie Yunjing replied with just that one sentence before lowering his head.

However, Yu Mingyue didn’t miss it, the moment their Mr. Xie lowered his head, the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.

*

“Is the time up yet? I really… can’t run anymore!”

Gu Xian was drenched in sweat on the treadmill, his eyes glazed with a sheen of moisture from reaching his limit.

Standing nearby, Xie Yunjing monitored him without a hint of sympathy and said coldly, “Time’s not up. Keep going.”

“Ha! Ha—” Barely able to catch his breath, Gu Xian still stubbornly protested, “I swear, you’re trying to kill me! Uncle Kang—help—”

However, Uncle Kang had long since figured out what was happening during previous workout sessions. He also believed Gu Xian needed sufficient exercise, so he completely ignored his cries for help and attempts to quit halfway.

Finally, the timer on the treadmill ran out, and the belt gradually came to a stop.

Gu Xian collapsed onto the treadmill belt like a puddle of water. Xie Yunjing looked at him with disdain. “Aren’t you worried about how dirty that is?”

Gu Xian glared at him. “This is all your fault… Damn it!”

Xie Yunjing sat down beside him, lifted his shirt, and gave his stomach a squeeze. “You’ve lost weight.”

Gu Xian weakly rolled his eyes and, after a moment, raised his hand. “Stop touching me, damn it! Do you think I’m some pig you’re fattening up?”

Exhausted from running, Gu Xian’s hands had no strength at all. Xie Yunjing easily continued pinching his stomach despite the feeble resistance. “Whoever heard of fattening up a pig by making it lose weight?”

“You—damn—”

Before Gu Xian could finish, Xie Yunjing gave a harder squeeze, causing his voice to change pitch. “Ugh!”

The soft, whiny tone of his protest made Gu Xian furious with embarrassment. “I’m not a damn squeaky chicken!”

Xie Yunjing pinched even harder, thoroughly enjoying himself as he listened to Gu Xian’s indignant grumbles. “A squeaky chicken doesn’t sound nearly as cute as you.”

“Go to—” Gu Xian’s curse abruptly cut off. He stared at Xie Yunjing with an expression like he’d just seen a ghost. “What did you just say?”

Xie Yunjing froze, as if he had just realized what he had said.

He gave Gu Xian’s stomach another hard pinch, eliciting a pained “Ow!” before pulling his shirt back down. “What are you talking about? I didn’t say anything.”

But Gu Xian wasn’t about to let him brush it off. Suddenly, his legs weren’t sore, and his stomach didn’t hurt anymore. He shot up from the ground and grabbed hold of Xie Yunjing, who was trying to walk away.

“Xie Yunjing, are you serious~?” Gu Xian’s voice carried a teasing lilt. “Last time, you reacted when I called your name, and now you’re saying my voice is cute—”

“Don’t bring up things from your dreams.” If Xie Yunjing had been calm enough, he definitely wouldn’t have chosen such a weak retort.

“Ew, cute~” Gu Xian pulled an exaggeratedly disgusted face and draped an arm over Xie Yunjing’s shoulder. “Xie Yunjing, are you really that unsatisfied? Could it be that—”

He poked Xie Yunjing’s chest, and finding the texture quite satisfying, gave it two more deliberate jabs. “At your age, are you still a virgin?”

“…”

After all that pretense of being profound, this was the ridiculous question he came up with.

Xie Yunjing inexplicably felt a wave of relief. With a cold sneer, he countered, “And you’re saying you’re not?”

Author’s Note:

Xiao Xie: I see you as my wife.jpg

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